This holiday season, ditch the sugary sweets, movies and other gifts we typically give to family and friends and consider giving awesome presents that promote healthy living. Here are some ideas that almost everyone will enjoy:
For healthy eating
There are some pretty cool kitchen gadgets and other things to make cooking and healthy eating easier and more fun. Here are some food-related gift ideas:
- Mediterranean cookbook for a heart healthy diet
- Device that easily makes homemade flavored sparkling water, which is healthier than drinking soda
- Supplies for a mini-indoor herb garden – include mint for digestion, oregano for anti-inflammatory effects, sage to boost memory and lower blood glucose levels and basil for vitamin K and magnesium
- An herb mill, that operates like a salt or pepper mill but for fresh herbs, making it easy to ditch the salt and spice things up instead
- A high-powered blender that makes smoothies in a snap and twists off for an easy on-the-go meal
- An ice cream maker for the sweet-lover – after all, homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt are healthier than store-bought frozen treats
- Gourmet loose tea, a spoon for steeping, a tea kettle and teacups
For staying fit
Many people get gym packages or workout equipment for Christmas because getting healthier and fitter is part of their New Year’s resolutions. Help motivate them with these cool fitness-focused gifts:
- A monogrammed gym bag
- Yoga kit with a mat, blocks, resistance bands and workout DVDs
- Yoga socks or pants that partially enclose the feet with grips on the bottom
- Earphones that have a max decibel level to protect against noise-induced hearing loss while working out to music
- Subscription to a fitness magazine
- A fitness monitor that gives vital statistics and also provides music to match one’s workout
- Thin wool socks for running in cold weather
- Fitness or dance video games for a workout that feels too fun to be exercise
For a sharp mind
An important part of staying healthy, especially as we age, is keeping mentally active. Here are some fun gifts to stimulate the brain:
- An e-reader that makes it easy to read almost any book, anywhere, and includes magnified font for older adults
- Word games and board games
- Tickets to a local play, musical or other production
- Gift certificate to take a class to learn something new like another language, pottery and knitting, for example
